# Suzi Perry
**Suzi Perry** (born 1970) is a British television presenter and journalist known for her motorsport broadcasting, as the face of MotoGP coverage on British television for more than a decade, as the first permanent female anchor of [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one)'s Formula 1 coverage, and as a longtime co-presenter of Channel 5's technology program *The Gadget Show*.[1](https://suziperry.com/about/) • [2](https://www.northmediatalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SUZIPERRY-BIOGRAPHY-AUGUST-2014in-parnership-with-Crown-Talent.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970 at RAF Cosford, Shropshire; raised in Wolverhampton[1](https://suziperry.com/about/) |
| Education | BA (Hons) Business and Finance, Wolverhampton Polytechnic (now the University of Wolverhampton)[3](https://www.wlv.ac.uk/media/departments/digital-content-and-communications/documents/Annual-Report-2015---2016.pdf) |
| Broadcasting debut | Sky Sports, 1997, first reporting from Brands Hatch; covered World Superbikes and Elite League speedway until 2000[4](https://suziperry.com/biography/) |
| MotoGP | Lead presenter of BBC MotoGP coverage, 10 years on *Grandstand* (sources describe her MotoGP tenure with the BBC as 10 to 13 years)[4](https://suziperry.com/biography/) • [5](https://www.speakersassociates.com/speaker/suzi-perry/) |
| *The Gadget Show* | Co-presenter on Channel 5 for 8 years across 17 series[2](https://www.northmediatalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SUZIPERRY-BIOGRAPHY-AUGUST-2014in-parnership-with-Crown-Talent.pdf) |
| Formula 1 | First permanent female anchor of BBC One's F1 coverage, 2013 to 2015, succeeding Jake Humphrey[6](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/21769197) • [5](https://www.speakersassociates.com/speaker/suzi-perry/) |
| BT Sport / TNT Sports | Channel ambassador and lead MotoGP presenter from early 2016[4](https://suziperry.com/biography/) • [5](https://www.speakersassociates.com/speaker/suzi-perry/) |
| Honors | Honorary Fellowship, University of Wolverhampton (2009); Honorary Doctor of Engineering (2016)[1](https://suziperry.com/about/) |
## Early life and start in television
Perry was born at [RAF Cosford](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-cosford) in [Shropshire](https://www.edgepedia.org/shropshire) and raised in [Wolverhampton](https://www.edgepedia.org/wolverhampton), where she became a Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter. She grew up around music: her father was a music promoter and booking agent, and her godfather was Mel Galley, the guitarist of Trapeze and Whitesnake.[1](https://suziperry.com/about/)
She studied for an Honours Degree in Business and Finance at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, then worked in Japan as a fashion model before returning to Britain to model in television commercials.[3](https://www.wlv.ac.uk/media/departments/digital-content-and-communications/documents/Annual-Report-2015---2016.pdf) • [1](https://suziperry.com/about/)
**A motorsport entry.** Her interest in motorcycle racing came from riding herself and attending British Superbikes races at Mallory Park and [Donington Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/donington-park) in the mid-1990s. Around 1996 or 1997 she made a demo tape interviewing riders at Donington, including Niall McKenzie, Jamie Whitham, and Phil McCallum. After contacting [Sky Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/sky-sports), presenter [Martin Turner](https://www.edgepedia.org/martin-turner) offered her a job, and in 1997 she made her television debut reporting from Brands Hatch: a six-hour live broadcast covering a race. She has described it as a "baptism of fire" that taught her live sports television.[4](https://suziperry.com/biography/) • [7](https://motorsport.sportingmemories.net/memory/2527-suzi-perry-how-i-became-a-biker-and-a-broadcaster/) • [8](https://www.shropshirestar.com/whats-on/midlands-heroes-no-sign-of-chequered-flag-yet-for-suzi-perry-5637295)
## MotoGP and the BBC years
Perry presented World Superbike and MotoGP coverage, first on Sky Sports and then on the BBC's *Grandstand*, where she became the established face of the sport on British television.[4](https://suziperry.com/biography/) • [9](https://wiki.gearknob.org/index.php?title=Suzi_Perry) Her own site describes over 10 years with [BBC Sport](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-sport) covering MotoGP; her talent biography says she presented MotoGP on *Grandstand* for 10 years, while a speakers' profile counts thirteen seasons of MotoGP coverage with the BBC before she moved to Formula 1.[1](https://suziperry.com/about/) • [2](https://www.northmediatalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SUZIPERRY-BIOGRAPHY-AUGUST-2014in-parnership-with-Crown-Talent.pdf) • [5](https://www.speakersassociates.com/speaker/suzi-perry/)
She has singled out the 2004 South African Grand Prix at Phakisa as a favorite memory: [Valentino Rossi](https://www.edgepedia.org/valentino-rossi), in his first race after moving from Honda to Yamaha, won against expectations, and Yamaha had not won a championship in twelve years.[7](https://motorsport.sportingmemories.net/memory/2527-suzi-perry-how-i-became-a-biker-and-a-broadcaster/)
During her BBC career she also reported from events beyond motorcycle racing, including Wimbledon, the [London Marathon](https://www.edgepedia.org/london-marathon), the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Great North Run, the Boat Race, and Royal Ascot, where she was the BBC's fashion correspondent for several years.[4](https://suziperry.com/biography/) In the 2002 to 2003 season of *Treasure Hunt* she worked as the helicopter-hopping "skyrunner" alongside co-presenter Dermot Murnaghan.[4](https://suziperry.com/biography/)
## The Gadget Show and technology work
From 2004 Perry co-presented Channel 5's weekly technology program *The Gadget Show* alongside Jon Bentley, Jason Bradbury, Ortis Deley, and Pollyanna Woodward, staying for eight years and 17 series.[2](https://www.northmediatalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SUZIPERRY-BIOGRAPHY-AUGUST-2014in-parnership-with-Crown-Talent.pdf) • [10](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/suzi-perry-12372.php) In 2012 the show's format changed and she was among the original presenters not retained.[10](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/suzi-perry-12372.php) During her run she also fronted Gadget Show Live at the NEC in Birmingham, performed three times a day over five days to more than 75,000 spectators.[2](https://www.northmediatalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SUZIPERRY-BIOGRAPHY-AUGUST-2014in-parnership-with-Crown-Talent.pdf)
Her technology profile extended to corporate work: she was Technology Ambassador for the Ideal Home Show for five years and met Prince Charles at the 2012 show, and she was the face and facilitator of the [Mobile World Congress](https://www.edgepedia.org/mobile-world-congress) event in Barcelona, which she describes as the most important mobile technologies trade fair in the world, for several years.[1](https://suziperry.com/about/) In a 2015 *Guardian* interview she described using an iPad Mini during unscripted live Formula 1 broadcasts to hold statistics, driver biographies, and viewer messages, and named an Apple iPod, which she discussed in her *Gadget Show* screen test, as the start of her preference for Apple products.[11](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/11/suzi-perry-tv-presenter-motor-sport-favourite-technology)
## Formula 1 anchor
In 2013 Perry replaced [Jake Humphrey](https://www.edgepedia.org/jake-humphrey) as the BBC's television presenter for Formula 1, becoming the first permanent female anchor of the corporation's F1 coverage.[6](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/21769197) • [10](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/suzi-perry-12372.php) She led a presenting team that included co-commentator [David Coulthard](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-coulthard), chief analyst [Eddie Jordan](https://www.edgepedia.org/eddie-jordan), and commentator Ben Edwards, and continued in the role through the 2015 season.[6](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/21769197) • [12](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/31735303) She also wrote behind-the-scenes F1 features for the BBC Sport website and produced video pieces for the site.[10](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/suzi-perry-12372.php) • [6](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/21769197)
When F1 coverage left the BBC after the 2015 season, she left the role after about three years and returned to motorcycles.[1](https://suziperry.com/about/)
## BT Sport and later work
In early 2016 Perry joined BT Sport as a channel ambassador and lead presenter, covering its MotoGP series, a role she has continued as the channel became TNT Sports.[4](https://suziperry.com/biography/) • [5](https://www.speakersassociates.com/speaker/suzi-perry/)
Her later television work includes the 2018 BBC documentary *Queens of the Road*, which followed three female road racers and was both a ratings success and critically acclaimed, and the 2017 BBC One programs *Suzi Perry's Queens of the Road* and *Invented in London*.[1](https://suziperry.com/about/) • [13](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/suzi-perry/) On BBC Radio 2 she has covered shows for [Zoe Ball](https://www.edgepedia.org/zoe-ball), Claudia Winkleman, and Simon Mayo, and she produced and presented *Formula One Anthems*, a documentary about the music playlists of leading F1 drivers.[4](https://suziperry.com/biography/) In 2020 she launched "Suzi's Breakfast Club", online Instagram broadcasts with guests from sport and entertainment.[13](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/suzi-perry/)
## Recognition and charity work
The University of Wolverhampton awarded Perry an Honorary Fellowship in 2009 and an Honorary Doctor of Engineering in 2016, and in 2016 she also received a Wolverhampton Famous Sons and Daughters Award.[1](https://suziperry.com/about/) She is a patron of Promise Dreams, a national charity providing dreams for seriously and terminally ill children, and an ambassador for UK Youth; she has also supported the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Alzheimer's Research UK, and the Special Olympics.[4](https://suziperry.com/biography/) With jeweller Alyssa Smith she sells a Smith and Perry Motorsport collection online and at Silverstone, with a percentage of sales donated to Promise Dreams.[1](https://suziperry.com/about/)
## References
1. [About, SuziPerry.com](https://suziperry.com/about/)
2. [Suzi Perry biography, North Media Talent / Crown Talent](https://www.northmediatalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SUZIPERRY-BIOGRAPHY-AUGUST-2014in-parnership-with-Crown-Talent.pdf)
3. [University of Wolverhampton Annual Report 2015/2016, Honorary Graduates](https://www.wlv.ac.uk/media/departments/digital-content-and-communications/documents/Annual-Report-2015---2016.pdf)
4. [Biography, SuziPerry.com](https://suziperry.com/biography/)
5. [Suzi Perry profile, Speakers Associates](https://www.speakersassociates.com/speaker/suzi-perry/)
6. [Lewis Hamilton joins BBC Sport's Formula 1 line-up as a columnist, BBC Sport (13 March 2013)](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/21769197)
7. [Suzi Perry: how I became a biker and a broadcaster, Replay Motorsport / Sporting Memories Network](https://motorsport.sportingmemories.net/memory/2527-suzi-perry-how-i-became-a-biker-and-a-broadcaster/)
8. [Midlands Heroes: No sign of chequered flag yet for Suzi Perry, Shropshire Star](https://www.shropshirestar.com/whats-on/midlands-heroes-no-sign-of-chequered-flag-yet-for-suzi-perry-5637295)
9. [Suzi Perry, GearKnob Wiki](https://wiki.gearknob.org/index.php?title=Suzi_Perry)
10. [Suzi Perry Biography, The Famous People](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/suzi-perry-12372.php)
11. [Suzi Perry on F1 technology, her love of Apple and useful emojis, The Guardian (11 January 2015)](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/11/suzi-perry-tv-presenter-motor-sport-favourite-technology)
12. [Formula 1: BBC offers extensive coverage of the 2015 season, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/31735303)
13. [Suzi Perry, MN2S booking agency](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/suzi-perry/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Broadcasting and journalism › Broadcast organizations and stations › Broadcasters as people › Sports announcers and team broadcasters › Announcers of other individual and niche sports*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license